Monday, February 27, 2012

A few years ago, I decided I needed to learn how to make cinnamon rolls. I had no idea how to do it, but because they are one of Ella's and Bruce's favorites, I messed around with several recipes to come up with what my family likes.

We like our rolls with a lot of height.
We like our rolls with a lot of cinnamon.
We like our rolls with a lot of frosting.

Because I've received so many requests to blog the recipe, I jotted down my steps, but I also referred to several cookbooks to make sure I was on track.

I usually just feel it, and they kind of turn out different every time.

Yeh, I'm one of those people.

One thing you need to know off the bat, is that I own a Bosch food processor with a dough mixer attachment, which means I don't knead this dough whatsoever. If you are working with a another type of mixer, you're going to need to add a 5-7 minutes of kneading by hand at the end of the mixing process.

1. Warm 3 cups milk in the microwave for 5-6 minutes in the microwave and place in the mixer. You want it to bubble a little bit like this.

2. Melt 2 sticks of butter and pour it over the milk.
3. Add 3/4 cup of white sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt.

4. Add 4 cups of flour to the top of the butter, milk, sugar, salt mixture. You are creating a barrier so that when you add the eggs, you won't cook them.
5. Then add 2 packages of yeast to the top of the flour.

6. Place 4 large eggs in a small bowl and mix those by hand breaking the yolks.

7. Turn on mixer and let it mix for 1 minute.
8. Add 4 more cups of flour and mix another 3-4 minutes.

9. Give your dough a finger check. When it's still sticky like this, add an additional cup of flour and mix another minute.

10. I give my dough a finger check again.

11. When it sticks to you, but snaps back. It's ready. If it's not doing this, add a 1/4 c. of flour at a time and keep mixing until it does this.

12. Spray a very large bowl with a cooking spray, and shape dough into a round loaf and place in bowl.

13. Cover and place in a warm spot. I always put mine in my oven just after turning it on for a minute or two and then shutting it right off.

14. Let rise for 60 minutes. (I forgot to take a picture for this. So sorry. Your dough should be puffy and nearly peaking out of the bowl.)

15. Punch down, cover and let rise again for 50 minutes.

16. Spread enough flour over your countertop so that the dough will not stick. Divide dough in half and roll out. I like a fat roll, so I don't make it too long or too skinny.
17. Melt 2 more sticks of butter.
18. Pour enough of the melted butter to generously cover the bottom of your pan. I used a 9x13 this time, but I've also made these in pie plates to give away.

19. Next pour 1/4 cup butter over the rolled out dough.

20. Spread 1/4 c. of white sugar in the middle of the roll.

21. Next spread as much cinnamon as you like over the top. We love cinnamon, so I get kind of cinnamon happy.

22. Next grab the edge furthest from yourself and begin to roll towards you.

23. Don't worry about the butter oozing out all over the place. Just try to roll it the best you can.

24. Once you have rolled it tight. Pinch the seam closed.

25. Once I have the ends tucked in and closed up, I flip the seam over to the bottom. Then, I like to stretch my dough just a bit. Don't pull it apart. Just give it a little stretch to give you a little more for your money.

26. I cut my rolls 1.5 to 2 inches thick.

27. Place them in the 9x13 buttered pan.

28. Cover with a tea towel and let rise 20 minutes. I usually get two 9x13's out of this recipe.

29. Move the racks inside of your oven to where your cinnamon rolls will sit approximately in the middle, and preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

30. Place rolls in the oven, and bake 17-20 minutes. I tend to lean towards less time because we like ours a little doughy.

31. Remove from oven, and because no one in your house will be able to wait, frost and eat.

32. If you're serving guests, load up the frosting for them. They'll mind their manners too well, and miss out on what living in the moment is if you let them do their own.

Mix the ingredients above, and knead 5-7 minutes, as needed if you don't have a Bosch mixer. Place in very large bowl, and cover with tea towel. Let rise 60 minutes, then punch down. Let rise again for 50 minutes. Roll out, and add butter, cinnamon, and sugar as displayed above. (Measurements below.)

For the dough's center 1/2 cup white sugar1/4 cup cinnamon, or more if you love it2 sticks butter, melted for center and for pans

Cinnamon Roll FrostingThis should make enough for 6-8 rolls, I rarely frost the entire batch at once. I usually freeze them unfrosted and make fresh batches of frosting as we eat them.1/3 bar of cream cheese, softened2 Tablespoons butter, softened3-4 cups powdered sugarpinch of salt1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

Whip the cream cheese and butter together, then add powdered sugar a cup at a time. Throw in a pinch of salt and vanilla. If it seems too thick, add milk to thin.

Hi! I just wanted you to know that I pinned your No Bake peanut Butter cheesecake in a jar and it's being repinned all over the place. You're probably going to get a ton of blog hits because of it. Sorry!

Thanks for sharing the recipe and actual step-by-step! They were so wonderful at CW! I might attempt them on my own now that I see exactly how to make them! By the way, I love your red Fieta 9X13! I have one in yellow and one in orange. They make me happy!

i have been wanting to ask about these but not sure if you were going to share. all i have to say is ...aahhhh yeah!!! so excited to make these {although my thighs might have a problem with you.} love your cooking!!

KIMBERLEE!!!! I just had a cinnamon bun hot out of the oven and these are them! these are the best. you are going to be famous for this recipe. i'm going to link up to you on friday! thank you thank you thank you!!!

I was going to make cake mix cinnamon rolls but either me or one of my helpers grabbed an instant cheesecake mix rather than a yellow cake mix. So, I decided to try your recipe. Question, is it really 3-4 cups powdered sugar or is it 3/4 cup?

Thank you!!! Made my night to find this recipe! I was searching your blog the other night trying to find recipe and couldn't find it! Yay for this pregnant mommy craving some huge wonderful cinnamon rolls!!! Have a blessed weekend!